Last year, Samsung beat Apple to become the biggest smartphone maker in the world, and also outpaced Nokia as the planet's biggest overall seller of phones.

The firm did not supply specific data on the number of smartphones it shipped in the final quarter of 2012, but analysts believe that it shifted 63m units in the period.

Samsung's handsets division, which sells around a quarter of mobile phones in the world, reported an operating profit of 5.44tn won, up from 2.56tn won a year earlier.

Earnings were further boosted by Samsung's display unit, which made a profit over the quarter, following a loss a year earlier.

It was boosted by sales of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) screens, which are used in the Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung's results came after Apple shares fell 12% in the US on fears that the firm was losing its grip on the smartphone market.

Apple reported record quarterly revenue of $55bn in the final quarter of 2012, but there were concerns over lower than expected sales of the new iPhone 5.

But Samsung also saw its shares fall around 2% in mid-trading in Seoul today, after the firm predicted that consumers will buy fewer smartphones in 2013.

"The furious growth spurt seen in the global smartphone market last year is expected to be pacified by intensifying price competition, compounded by a slew of new products," Samsung said in a statement.

But it added: "In the first quarter [of 2013], demand for smartphones in developed countries is expected to decelerate, while their emerging counterparts will see their markets escalate with the introduction of more affordable smartphones and a bigger appetite for tablet PCs throughout the year."